Oil producers from OPEC and non-OPEC countries struck a historic deal in late 2016

OPEC Chief Suhail al-Mazrouei mentioned on Tuesday that he expected the global oil market to be balanced this year, as producers continue to cut off production following a 2014 market crash.

“I am optimistic that this year, we will achieve a market balance” between supply and demand, Mazrouei, also the energy minister of the United Arab Emirates, mentioned to the Global Financial Markets Forum in Abu Dhabi.

Oil producers from OPEC and non-OPEC countries struck a historic deal in late 2016 to cut result by 1.8 million barrels everyday, following a surplus in crude supply that sent prices crashing in 2014.

Compliance to the cuts hit 133 percent in January, which Mazrouei stated exceeded the percentage required in the deal. The compliance rate was 129 percent in December and 122 percent in November.

Oil prices have recovered to around $70 a barrel as a result of the policy. Mazrouei told cooperation between oil producers including Russia had reached levels that were “more than expected”.

The minister mentioned earlier this month that OPEC focused to forge longer-term partnership with non-OPEC producers to stabilise the market.

Mazrouei warned however that with the balance returning to the oil market and demand picking up, the energy sector would require hefty investment in the near future — not only by the oil-rich Gulf states, but also international oil companies.

“We need to add 15 million barrels daily by 2040 to meet demand,” he stated, putting the needed investment at $10.5 trillion.